Clutch mechanism for fashioning knitting-machines.



M. ZWIGKY. GLUTGH MECHANISM POR FASHIONING KNITTING MACHINES. APPLIGATION FILED DBC.22,1911.

Lmw, Patented Mar.2,1915.

l f m/ /i LMdc/fior 2Mb/gy MELCHIOR ZWICKY, OF WYOIVIISSING BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 TEXTILE MACHINE WORKS, 0F WYOIVIISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR FASHIONIN G KNITTING-IVIACHINES.

Application filed December 22, 1911.

To all whom it may concer-n Be it known that I, MnLoHior. ZwioiiY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Vyomissing, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutch Mechanism for Fashioning Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a clutch mechanism particularly adapted to the slur-cam mechanism of straight knitting machines of the so-called cotton type, which mechanism controls the operation of the sinkers by the usual longitudinal cam shaft.

The rotation of the slur-cam or sinkeroperating shaft is commonly effected at determined times by the longitudinal movement of the cam shaft; this movement of the latter being adapted to engage or release a gear wheel by which the sinker-operating shaft is rotated. My present invention provides improved clutch mechanism for positively controlling the operation of the latter so as to secure requisite nicety in the operation of the sinkers, while at the same time insuring the easy engagement' of the two shafts notwithstanding the momentum of the disengaged parts.

The invention is fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and is specifically pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 is a front view of the portion of a straight knitting machine to which my improvement is applied. Fig. 2 is a separate enlarged view of the loose pinion wheel and fixed clutch sleeve of the cam shaft, showing them in disengaged positions. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of arrow 3. Fig. 4 is a similar section looking in the direction of arrow 4. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the spring-projected tooth portion of the clutch sleeve.

The specific mechanism indicated in connection with my invention is more fully illustrated and described in Patent No. 801,984, issued October 17th, 1905 to TeX- tile Machine Works, assignee of Henry Janssen, and the same need only be briefly referred to in order to make clear the present improvements.

B represents the usual longitudinally arranged cam shaft or drive shaft of the ma- Specfcation of Letters Patent.

Patenten irai. 2', mia..

Serial No. 667,351.

chine, and C the transversely arranged slur-cam shaft driven thereby; the latter being mounted upon transverse carrying frames D, and having fixed thereto the usual slnker-operating slur-cam (not shown) and bevel gear wheel 2; and said cam shaft B carrying a loose pinion 3 held in proper meshing relation to said gear wheel 2, as shown, by a holding device 4 adjustably secured to said frame. portion D. This normally loose pinion 3 is adapted to be rotated with the cam shaft B by means of a clutch sleeve 5 arranged to engage or disengage it according as the shaft is moved longitudinally in one direction or the other; and the disengaging movement of the shaft is also adapted, as shown, to throw into operation a brake mechanism 6, 7 whereby the rotation of the disengaged shaft is stopped as promptly as is practicable without undue shock. I have found that notwithstanding the prompt action of this braking mechanism upon the disengagedsinker-operating shaft, there is sufficient momentum to cause more or less rotation of the pinion 3 beyond proper rengaging position with the clutch sleeve 5; and my invention is intended to provide for avoiding any shock or breakage in effecting such engagement, while positively preventing objectionable lost motion after the engagement is effected. To this end the clutch sleeve 5 is constructed with a fixed projection or tooth portion 10, which is adapted to engage the shoulder 11 of recess 12 in the face of pinion 3 when the latter is driven with the cam shaft; and with a cooperating spring-projected tooth portion 14 which is adapted to engage the shoulder 13 of said recess. This spring-projected tooth portion 14, is in the form of a pin having a shank 15 guided in a circular recess 16 provided therefor in the clutch sleeve and backing against a spring 17 in said recess. The projecting end of this pin is formed with a squared face 18 to contact with the shoulder 13 of the pinion recess; and its projecting movement is limited and any turning movement is prevented, by means of a transverse key-pin 20 in the sleeve engaging a slot or depression 21 in the body of the pin.

When the pinion 3 is rotated with the cam shaft B, the fixed projection or tooth portion 10, and the spring-*projected tooth portion 14, of the clutch sleeve 5, are both entered in the recess 12 of the pinion; the portion 10 pressing against the shoulder 11 of the recess, and the portion 14 close enough to the shoulder 13 to retain positive control of the pinion. Vhen the cam shaft is moved longitudinally so as to disengage the pinion, the momentum of the brake-controlled sinker-operating shaft C and its connected parts causes the loosened pinion to turn more or less on shaft B, and the reengaging movement of the shaft B will first press the spring-projected tooth portion 14 of the clutch sleeve against the un-recessed face of the pinion; but its retreat under pressure will permit the fixed tooth portion 10 to freely enter said recess, and when the latter is brought into contact With the recess shoulder 11, the portion 14 will be projected into said recess to engage the shoulder 13 as previously stated.

What I claim is A clutch, comprising a shaft, a driving member and a driven member on said shaft and adapted to be inter-locked, one of said members being provided with a recess concen tric to said shaft and having terminal shoulders, and the other of said members being provided with a fixed tooth portion and a spring projected pin portion, said fixed tooth portion having a cam face on its portion adjacent the spring pin, said fixed tooth portion and pin portion being adapted to enter said recess into engaging relation with said shoulders;

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

MELCI-IIOR ZVICKY.

IVitnesses Ro. CARL RAHM, D. M. STEWART. 

